CAG to conduct special audit into alleged financial irregularities in reconstruction of Delhi Chief Minister's official residence

New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India will conduct a special audit into alleged administrative and financial irregularities in the reconstruction of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence in Delhi’s Civil Lines. Officials in the lieutenant governor’s (LG’s) office said, LG VK Saxena, on May 24, wrote to the Union Ministry of home affairs (MHA) pointing out alleged irregularities in the reconstruction of the CM’s official residence. 

MHA recommended a special CAG audit taking note of the LG’s letter which flagged irregularities. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) condemned the decision.

The reconstruction was carried out



between 2020 and 2022 when the coronavirus pandemic was raging across the country. The LG’s letter was based on a report Delhi chief secretary Naresh Kumar submitted to him on April 27 which detailed prima facie violations of rules, guidelines and ownership in the reconstruction. The chief secretary prepared the factual report on the directions of the LG. A month later, the Delhi government’s vigilance department said in a report that the renovation of Mr. Kejriwal’s official residence incurred a total cost of 52.71 crore rupees. The report said, 33.49 crore rupees spent on the construction of the house and 19.22 crore rupees on a camp office for the chief minister.